Dutch coach was due to announce his selections for this summer's trip to Brazil on Friday but it's been put back to Monday to try to get a deal done with the Reds

Van United: The Dutchman is the only real candidate after Ancelotti's Real beat Bayern

Louis van Gaal’s appointment as Manchester United boss is imminent, after the announcement of his Dutch World Cup squad, expected to happen on Friday, was put back to next week, writes David McDonnell.

No official reason for the postponement was given by the Dutch Football Federation, but it is understood the delay is to accommodate outgoing boss Van Gaal’s negotiations with United.

The Dutch FA have said they do not want Van Gaal to be distracted by anything that could undermine Holland’s World Cup campaign in Brazil this summer, hence their desire for any deal with the Old Trafford giants to be concluded within the next seven days.

Van Gaal will now name his squad for the finals on Monday instead.

Finding a suitable position for current caretaker manager Ryan Giggs is delaying a deal for a successor to David Moyes, with Van Gaal set to bring in his own entourage of up to five coaching staff.

Those in charge at the Reds are keen to retain the Welshman - an Old Trafford icon and part of the club for 26 years since signing as a teenager - in some capacity under the new management and coaching structure.

The 40-year-old has taken temporary charge for United's remaining four games of the season and began his brief stint in charge with a 4-0 win over Norwich at Old Trafford on Saturday.

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Ryan's gig: Issue of what job to give the United legend is delaying Van Gaal deal

Real Madrid’s progress to the Champions League Final under Carlo Ancelotti - the only real rival to Van Gaal for the United job - means the way is clear for the Holland boss to take over at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal, 62, has been asked by the United hierarchy to give his verdict on the players they were working on signing when they decided to dispense with Moyes.

Moves for Southampton’s Luke Shaw, Bayern Munich’s Toni Kroos, Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho and Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus were in full swing when the axe fell on the former Everton boss last Tuesday morning.

Giggs is using Joyce as the day-to-day senior advisor for the Class of 92 along with Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. He sat in the stand for the win over Norwich and was in contact with the bench to advise the caretaker boss.

Joyce was brought into the fold by Alex Ferguson and Giggs rates him highly.